Sunday, November 11, 2012

Pattern Within Pattern

The Intermediate View

Back in the days when computers were as big as a suitcase and as slow as a corporate giant's tax return, there used to be a little programme you could buy which would generate Mandelbrot Sets. These were a kind of infinite pattern, where you could keep on zooming in and revealing patterns within patterns, detail within detail. They had an almost natural feel to them; like coastlines pictured from space or the growth of bark on a pine tree. I was reminded of all this yesterday as Amy and I were walking through the Crematorium and I picked up a leaf from the ground. Like a Mandelbrot Set something as simple as a half-chewed leaf can, with the aid of a half-decent scanner, allow you to seek patterns within patterns, detail within detail.

9 comments:

Nice! And I think there are still fractal programs available; I'll have to check all my bookmarked freeware/shareware download sites. But Mama Gaia does a much better job of generating fractal sets than a mere computer program!

Like Roy, fractals came to mind. The thing is I don't get fractals but there is something to the theory that touches me as being a bit of truth, and when I see patterns like this now, I think ah, fractals.

About Me

One time lecturer, writer on European Affairs and bus conductor, Alan Burnett now divides his time between walking the dog and a little harmless blogging. His News From Nowhere Blog has been running since 2006 and acts as a showcase for his ranting and writing and his photographs old and new.